FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Wet conditions pushed back the start of the Mason Rudolph Championship by two hours on Friday morning, but Rice University men’s golf found its footing as the opening round wore on to close out the day in 14th with a 309 (+25) on the par-71, 7,100-yard Vanderbilt Legends Club.

Kevin Reilly was the Owls’ star on Friday, posting a 73 (+1), including three birdies and 11 pars to place 19th heading into Saturday morning’s second round.

James Lee played a steady round at 75 (+4). The sophomore knocked in 12 pars and his lone birdie of the afternoon came on his first hole of play, the par-4 10th. He ranks 37th in the 78-golfer field.

Tommy Economou overcame a rough start on his opening hole to card 11 birdies in the round. He placed 69th for the day with an 80 (+9).

Alex Levy sank a birdie on the par-3 13th hole en route to an 81 (+10) on the day. He closed the round in 72nd place.

Landon Michelson tied with his freshman teammate in 72nd. He holed eight pars in addition to a birdie on the par-5 18th hole.

Top-ranked Alabama leads the field with a 281 (-3), seven strokes ahead of Kennesaw State. Host No. 14 Vanderbilt is one stroke behind, tied in third place with College of Charleston.

The Owls trail future Conference USA rival Western Kentucky by four strokes for 13th place and Middle Tennessee by six strokes for 12th.

Charleston’s Zach Munroe leads the field with a 68 (-3), one stroke up on Georgia Southern’s Charlie Martin, Alabama’s Trey Mullinax and Vanderbilt’s Hunter Stewart.